Like all other South Americans, Ecuador is a country that loves to have a party and so major holiday are usually very colourful events, with the whole country taking time off to celebrate. Also, being a predominately Roman Catholic country, Ecuador’s holidays and festivals usually coincide with religious festivals.
If you would like to visit some of those activities here is more information about them and this will help you to decide when exactly to plan your vacation in the fascinating Ecuador hotels.
Like elsewhere on the earth, events in Ecuador starts in January, with the major events and holidays being center on New Year’s Day and Epiphany (or Three Kings’ Day). On the other hand, over 90% of the population in Ecuador are Roman Catholic, so Epiphany (6 January) is thought of one of the major events in Ecuador’s calendar.
In case you want to spend the New Year’s day in Ecuador it’s better to book your hotel in Ecuador in advance, considering that most of the hotels are fully booked for this period.
The next of the major events in Ecuador is National Community Spirit Day (27 February), which was originally held in remembrance of the Tarqui Battle, but nowadays is a national holiday celebrating civic activities and events.
The period of March and April is doubtless the biggest time of the year for Ecuador holidays and festivals. Events and holidays during this period start with Carnival, which, being a most important event in Ecuador, is constantly celebrated the weekend prior to Ash Wednesday. Events and holidays during, and following, Carnival usually means that Ecuador holidays for the entire week following Carnival, which itself is a long-weekend, as Carnival is quickly followed by one of the biggest events in Ecuador - Easter Week.
If you check carefully you can find some perfect discounts for the hotels in Ecuador, so you will have the availability to visit these fantastic activities and have the best vacation in your life at really reasonable prices.
Most of the population in Ecuador is Roman Catholics, so Easter Week produces an endless collection of religious events and holidays. Although Holy Saturday is technically the only national public holiday for the duration of this period, most Ecuadorians tend to take the whole week off. This time can also be a favourite time for Ecuadorians to do some domestic travel.
The next major event in Ecuador’s calendar is 10 August - Independence Day (Fiesta Civiva Nacional). This Ecuadorian holiday generally includes military parades and civic events held across the country.
The next holidays are in October- Guayaquil's Independence Day (9 October) and Columbus Day (12 October)- one of the many major events in Ecuador and South America celebrating the day in 1492 when Christopher Columbus first arrived on this continent.
November again is full of Ecuador holidays and festivals centering on religious issues with All Saints’ Day and All Soul’s Day (1 and 2). Although, only the 2nd is considered a major event in Ecuador, i.e. a national holiday, with the 3rd being Cuenca Independence Day, this is once again a time of the year when many of Ecuador’s holidays and festivals combine to provide a fiesta time! However, keep in mind, as with all Ecuador events, shops are likely to be closed during this time.
In December the major events in Ecuador turn to the far more traditional festivals and holidays that we are used to in the west, i.e. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, both traditionally national holidays, and New Year (or Year’s End as this major event in Ecuador is known). New Year is a very important celebration in Ecuador, running from 28 thru to 31, with the entire nation bracing itself for the Ecuador New Year by burning human figurines in the streets.
Again this is a perfect time to visit this fantastic country.